Hair coloring formula identification clip device, system, and method

ABSTRACT

A hair coloring formula identification clip device, system, and method. The hair coloring identification clip preferably includes a writable and erasable surface portion.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed to a hair coloring formula identification clip device, a hair coloring identification system, and method of identifying hair coloring formulas.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Currently, a hair colorist will mix up multiple different formulas of hair coloring to apply to a person's hair during a hair coloring application or treatment. The different formulas are applied at different stages or steps of the process to achieve a desired outcome.

The hair colorist uses bowls for mixing and containing different formulas of hair coloring for application to the person's hair. These bowls typically are not marked to identify the particular formula in each bowl. Thus, it is very common that the wrong formula is applied during the coloring process causing poor outcomes.

Thus, it is desirable to provide an identification device, system, and method of positively marking bowls containing the different hair dye formulas so that the hair colorist can identify the proper formula so there is no mix up of the formulas when applying the different hair coloring formulas. For example, as many as four or five bowls are used in one color application, and proper identification of the different hair formulas every time is important.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A first object of the present invention is to provide a hair coloring identification clip device, system, and method.

A second object of the present invention is to provide a hair coloring identification clip device including a markable or writable surface portion.

A third object of the present invention is to provide a hair coloring identification clip device including an erasable surface portion.

A fourth object of the present invention is to provide a hair coloring identification clip device including a markable or writable and erasable surface portion or portions.

A fifth object of the present invention is to provide a hair coloring identification clip device including an erasable note pad portion.

A sixth object of the present invention is to provide a hair coloring identification clip device having a laminated erasable portion.

A seventh object of the present invention is to provide a hair coloring identification system.

A eighth object of the present invention is to provide a hair coloring identification system including at least one hair coloring identification clip device.

A ninth object of the present invention is to provide a hair coloring identification method, including the step of marking containers of different hair coloring formula to allow identification of the hair coloring formulas during use, and the levels of color and developer contained therein.

The present invention is directed to a hair coloring identification clip, system, and method. The hair coloring identification clip according to the present invention includes a markable or writable portion. This configuration allows a hair colorist to mark or write on the hair coloring identification clip. For example, the hair colorist can write the particular formula of the hair coloring on the hair coloring identification clip device, and then clip the hair coloring formula identification clip device to the container containing that particular formula. The marking or writing by the hair colorist on the hair color identification clip device can be permanent (e.g. reuse of same clip device with same hair coloring formula at a future date), or more preferably erasable to allow reuse (e.g. reuse of same clip device with a different hair coloring formula at a future date). The erasable embodiment allows for more versatility and type of reuse (e.g. less clip devices are required due to erasability feature).

In a preferred embodiment, the hair coloring identification clip includes a first clip portion, a second clip portion, and a spring connecting the clip portions together and for biasing gripping ends of the clipped portions together to provide a clip device. For example, a metal coiled spring includes bent end portions for attaching the two (2) clip portions together to make an assembled clip device.

The surface of the clip portions (e.g. one side or both sides) are made to be markable, preferably or writable. For example, the surface can be painted, coated, textured to allow a hair colorist to mark and/or write thereon. The mark or writing, for example, can indicate the particular hair coloring formula or be the hair coloring formula itself. The written on clip device is attached or is then attached to a container (e.g. mixing bowl) containing that particular hair coloring formula to mark the contents of that container. A user can utilize a pencil, pen, marker, crayon or other suitable writing implement to write the hair coloring formula or to indicate the particular hair coloring formulate on the clip device. Alternatively, a label, sticker or other separately marked indicator can be attached to the clip device to indicate the hair coloring formula or the hair coloring formula itself.

In one preferred embodiment, a wooden clip is painted with a textured coating that accepts writing thereon. Depending on the particular coating, the writing can be erasable to allow reuse of the clip device. In another embodiment, only a portion of the clip device is textured to allow writing only on the textured portion.

In another preferred embodiment, one or more separate surfaces or laminates having a markable or writable surface can be applied to one or both clip portions of the clip device, for example, by using adhesive, sticky back, heat welding, plastic insert injection molding, mechanical fastening, or other suitable technique to attach the surface or laminate to the clip portion(s).

The clip device can have a uniform width, or can be made so as to have a wider notepad portion to provide more room for writing on the notepad portion. The notepad portion can be made intergral with the clip device, or can be a separate part or component attached thereto.

The hair coloring identification system includes multiple hair coloring identification clips with multiple containers, for example, hair coloring mixing bowls. The hair coloring identification clips are made so as to be removably attach to an upper edge of the mixing bowls. Preferably, the hair coloring identification clips attached to the bowls in a manner so as to not come into contact with the hair coloring formula itself.

The hair coloring identification method includes placing a particular hair coloring formula into a container (e.g. bowl), and then writing the hair coloring formula on a hair coloring identification clip device according to the present invention, and then attaching same to the container or bowl. In this manner, the particular hair coloring formula contained in the container or bowl is marked so as to be later identified with the correct hair coloring formula when being applied to a person. When using multiple different hair coloring formulas on the same person during application, in this manner the proper hair coloring formula is identified prior to application to the person.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a hair dye identification clip device according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of a hair dye identification clip device shown in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a front elevational view of another embodiment of a hair dye identification clip device.

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the hair dye formula identification clip shown in FIG. 4.

FIG. 5 is a front elevational view of a further embodiment of the hair identification clip device according to the present invention.

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of another further embodiment of the hair dye identification clip device according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a hair dye identification clip system according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

A preferred embodiment of the hair coloring identification clip device 10 according to the present invention is shown in FIGS. 1 and 2.

The identification clip 10 includes a first clip portion 12 and a second clip portion 14 with a coiled metal spring 16 connecting the clip portions 12, 14 together. The spring 16 includes bent gripping portion 16 a, 16 b for fastening the clip portions 12, 14 together. For example, the spring 16 can be a coiled metal spring designed to apply opposite torque to the clip portions 12, 14 so as to bias the gripping end 12 a, 14 a of the clip portion 12, 14 together.

The clip portions 12, 14 can be made of wood, and then coated (e.g. paint) with a surface that can be marked or preferably written thereon. Further, the coated surface can be selected to not only be markable or writable, but also erasable to allow reuse of the clip device 10 (e.g. with other hair coloring formulas). Alternatively, the clip portions 12, 14 can be made of plastic (e.g. plastic injection molded) and provided with a surface finish that allows writing and/or erasing (e.g. textured finish). A textured finish can be provided by sand blasting, shot penning, bead penning, machining, or other suitable technique applied to desired surfaces of the mold used for plastic injection molding of the clip portions 12, 14.

Another embodiment of the hair coloring identification clip device 20 according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 3.

The hair coloring identification clip device 20 includes a regular surface portion 20 a and a textured surface portion 20 b selected to allow marking or writing, and preferably erasing.

Another further embodiment of the hair coloring identification clip device 30 is shown in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The hair coloring identification clip device 30 is provided a separate marking or writing surface 38 (e.g. texture surface) applied to one or both clip portions 32, 34. The textured surface 38, for example, can be a laminate, textured laminate, film, textured film, textured plate, plastic laminate, polymer laminate, paper laminate, cardboard laminate, plastic laminate, label, sticker, or other suitable surface applied by adhering, heat welding, insert plastic injection molding, or other suitable technique. The surface 32 is markable or writable, and preferably is also erasable.

An even further embodiment of the hair coloring identification clip device 40 is shown in FIG. 6.

The hair coloring identification clip 40 includes a notepad portion 48 configured to be wider versus the width of the clip portions 42, 44. The wider notepad portion 48 can be integral with one or both of the clip portions 42, 44, or can be a separate notepad portion 48 applied to one or more of the clip portions 42, 44. The increased width of the notepad portion 48 allows for more room for a user to write a particular hair dye formula thereon. A hair colorist can mark or write on the surface of the notepad portion 48, or one or more labels (e.g. sticky back blank labels that can be written on) can be attached to the notepad portion.

A hair coloring identification system 100 according to the present invention is shown in FIG. 7.

The hair coloring identification system 100 includes multiple containers or bowls 102 each provided with a hair coloring brush applicator and hair coloring identification clip device 10 for identifying the particular hair coloring formula contained in each of the containers or bowls 102. It is noted that the system 100 can include only two containers 102 or four or more containers depending on the particular hair coloring application. 

1. A hair coloring formula identification clip, comprising: a first clip portion; a second clip portion connected to said first clip portion; a spring connected to at least one of said first clip portion and said second clip portion, said spring configured for releasably biasing gripping end portions of said first clip portion and said second clip portion together; and a writing surface portion provided on at least one of said first clip portion and said second clip portion, said writing surface portion including a writable and erasable surface configured to allow a user to write and then erase the writing, whereby a user writes a hair coloring formula on said writing surface portion, and then clips said hair coloring formula clip onto a container to identify the particular hair coloring formula contained or to be contained therein.
 2. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first clip portion and said second clip portion are provided with an erasable surface portion.
 3. A device according to claim 2, wherein both said first clip portion and said second clip portion are provided with erasable surface portions.
 4. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first clip portion and said second clip portion are provided with a widened area to provide a note pad portion having an erasable surface.
 5. A device according to claim 1, wherein said note pad portion is integral with at least one of said first clip portion and said second clip portion.
 6. A device according to claim 1, wherein said note pad portion is a separate part and connected to at least one of said first clip portion and said second clip portion.
 7. A device according to claim 6, wherein said note pad portion is an erasable surface adhered to at least one of said first clip portion and said second clip portion.
 8. A device according to claim 1, wherein said writable and erasable surface portion is a polymer film having an erasable surface on one side and adhered to at least one of said first clip portion and said second clip portion on a opposite side of said polymer film.
 9. A device according to claim 1, wherein said note pad portion is plastic injection molded with said first clip portion and said second clip portion.
 10. A device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said first clip portion and said second clip portion are plastic injection molded, and said note pad portion is textured to provide an erasable surface portion on at least one of said first clip portion and said second clip portion.
 11. A hair coloring formula identification system, comprising: a plurality of hair coloring formula identification clip devices, said clip devices each including a writable and erasable surface portion; a plurality of containers for containing different hair coloring formulas, whereby a user fills said plurality of containers with different hair coloring formulas, and identifies the particular hair coloring formulas in each said containers by writing the particular hair coloring formulas on said identification clips, and attaching said identification clips to said containers containing the corresponding hair coloring formulas.
 12. A device according to claim 1, wherein said containers are mixing bowls.
 13. A device according to claim 12, including hair coloring application brushes for said mixing bowls.
 14. A method of identifying hair coloring formulas, including the steps of: filling containers with different hair coloring formulas; and applying hair coloring formula identification clip devices to said containers to identify the particular hair coloring formula contained in each said containers.
 15. A method according to claim 14, wherein said hair coloring identification clip devices have writable and erasable surface portions.
 16. A method according to claim 15, wherein said hair coloring identification clips have erasable note pad portions, and erasing said note pad portions after use to allow reuse thereof. 